HOW TO LIVE TODAY

Philippians 3:13-14 

Introduction: The book of Philippians is one of the most practical books of the New Testament.  It is also the Psalms of the New Testament.  It has its key words “rejoice” or “joy”.  Whenever I read this book, I remember that Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians believers from a jail cell.  It is a remarkable truth that the church in Philippi had its start from a jail cell.  In Acts chapter sixteen, Paul and his traveling companion Silas are beaten and put in the innermost part of the jail.

      At midnight Paul and Silas are praying and singing praises to the Lord when the Lord shook the very foundation of the jail.  I wonder what they were singing.  It could be Psalm 118.  “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

      All the doors are open.  The jailer knew that he would have to serve the sentences of any escaped convict. 

      There are several true miracles in this place.  First, there are no reported injuries from the earthquake.  Even though it is not said either way, this earthquake seems to be center on the jail.  Secondly, there are no escaped convicts.  .  If you opened the doors to the Johnston county Jail, you better get out of the way, there is going to be a stampede.  He prepares to commit suicide.  He hears that all is there.  Thirdly, how did Paul know that the jailer was about to commit suicide?  There is only one logical Biblical answer.  The Lord told him.

      What happens next is Bible history.  This man asks that question that many have asked countless times since that day.  “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  Of course Paul did not miss a beat when he replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  What a difference that moment made in that man’s life.  Maybe he sung a song similar to one we sing.

THANKS TO CALVARY 

1. Today I went back to the place where I used to go;

Today I saw the same old crowd I knew before.

When they asked me what had happened, I tried to tell them,

"Thanks to Calv'ry I don't come here anymore."

CHORUS:

Thanks to Calv'ry I am not the man I used to be,

Thanks to Calv'ry things are different than before.

While the tears ran down my face,

I tried to tell them,

"Thanks to Calv'ry I don't come here anymore."

2. And then we went back to the house where we used to live,

My little boy ran and hid behind the door;

I said, "Son, never fear you've got a new Daddy,

Thanks to Calv'ry we don't live here anymore."

      The only true way to see changes in a home is have Jesus Christ come into the hearts of the parents when the children are young.  Social programs will not change them.  Education will not change them.  Reformation will not change them.  Only Calvary can change a home.

      I have said all that to bring us to our text.  In these two verses, I see a problem and a plan.  I see the problem in the problem in many people’s life.  But I don’t see the plan.  So today I want to try and help you with the problem and give you a plan for living today. 

I.  THE PROBLEM Vs. 13

“but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind”

      The problem is that many people live in the past.  Paul did not live there.  He was determined that he would live for today.  When he wrote those words, he may have been thinking of the races that he had observed.  A runner who looks behind him will usually lose because his concentration is broken from the task before him. 

      What are some of the areas in which we must forget?

1. Forgetting Past Successes

      You cannot stay with those successes.  If you try that you will several things will be true.

1. You will be become to be despair.  You will be despair to have those successes again.

2. You will be depressed because you don’t have those successes again.  Depression comes to most people but you don’t have to live there.

      Some have successes in their business life but today they don’t have that anymore.  Some have success in their family lives but today they don’t have it anymore.  I heard a preacher that was starting a series on the family.  He made reference to a preacher friend who preached on the family for years.  Before the man had a family, he preached, “How to definitely biblical raise your children.”  He had all the answers.  Then he had children.  After a few years, he preached, “How to raise your children”.  Then as his children got older, he changed the name of the message as “Hints to raise your children”.  Years later, he called it “Raising your children”. 

2. Forgetting Past Sorrows

      Once again, you cannot live in those sorrows.  There are many things in which you can have sorrow.  You may be sorry over your lack of growth in your life as a Christian. 

      You may have a death that caused you lots of sorrow.  Some sorrow over children who have died.  Some sorrow over a spouse who died.  Some may have sorrow over a pet that died.

      Sorrow will drive you to the place of despair, depress and even death if they live there long enough.  I will not stand in judgment of people have sorrow for a long period of time.  Some people’s disposition is that they are given unto the gloom and doom of life.

3. Forgetting Past Strengths

      Remember the old saying that the old mare is not what she used to be.  Many times as we get older we cannot do what we used to do.  It may be disease that robs us of our strength.  It may be age that robs us of our strength. 

      It seems that naps are a great idea today.  Vitamins are a necessity of life.  Prescriptions are a fact of life for many people.  Without them, you would no have any strength. 

      This is especially hard on men.  Some men worked very hard in their lifetime.  They build things or rebuilt some things but now they cannot even stand or even hold a tool. 

      Living in the past strengths will be also drive you to despair, depression and death if you live there. 

4. Forgetting Past Sins

      Some people don’t seem to ever to forget past sins.  There is a reality of the Word of God about past sins.  Some people would not let you forget your past sins.  I saw this illustration years ago but could not find it in my files.  One of the pastors on one of the email groups I belong sent to me.  It perfectly illustrates what I mean by some people don’t seem to forget our past sins.

      One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.

      It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.

      As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past.

      As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this:  "My fiancée's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin." "Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?"

      The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.

      Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

      What can wash away my sins? ... Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

      Some people cannot forget their past sins.  They live in them so much that they are miserable and are not good to anyone especially the Lord and the lost they could help.

      That is just a few parts of our past that we need to forget.  So what should we do?  I am glad you asked. 

II.  THE PLAN Vs. 13b-14

“Reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

      The plan for living today is very straightforward.

A. Rely   Philippians 4:13

  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

  Paul is saying here that he could bear any trial, perform any duty, subdue any evil tendency of his nature, and meet all the temptations incident to any condition of prosperity or adversity. 

              I can live with the strength that Jesus gives today.  I forget the past.  I can be all that Jesus wants me to be.

B. Rejoice  1^st Thessalonians 5:16

  “Rejoice evermore.”

                                Philippians 4:4

  “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

              This is our privilege.  It should not be in certain seasons like Thanksgiving.  It should be always.  At all times we should rejoice that there is a God and Saviour.  We ought to be rejoicing over the character, law, and government of God--in His promises, and in our communion with Him.

C. Resolve Philippians 4:11

  “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

              Those sound almost like empty words until you put in perspective.  Paul is writing this from a jail cell.  He is not giving a sob story but is happy in the Lord. 

D. Realign your thinking Philippians 4:8-9

  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

              There are two possibilities that fit these items mentioned in these verses.  It is the Lord Jesus and the Word of God.  You can only realign your thinking by having the Word of God deep into your life.

                                Psalm 119:11

        “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

              I read this short sentence by Charles Spurgeon.  His heart would be kept by the word because he kept the word in his heart. If you don’t keep the Word in your heart, you will live in the past.  

5. Remember where your past sins are.

1. They are in the depths of the sea.

                        Micah 7:18-19

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

2. They are behind God’s back.

                        Isaiah 38:17

“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.”

3. They are as far as the east is from the west.

                        Psalm 103:12

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

4. They have been forgotten by the Lord.

                                                Hebrews 10:17

                              “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

                                                Jeremiah 31:34

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the  least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

5. They were laid on Christ on the cross.

                                                Isaiah 53:6

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

6. They were washed away by Christ.

                                                Colossians 1:14

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”

                        Revelation 1:5

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”

7. They were blotted by the Lord Jesus.

                                                Acts 3:19

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”

                                                Isaiah 44:21-22

“Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

                                                Isaiah 43:25

      “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy  transgressions for mine own sake, and will not  remember thy sins.”

      So how can we live in such a way as to live in the past sins that Jesus completely takes away? 

Conclusion: Why have the problems by living in the past?  Jesus wants to live Him today.  Not matter how hard you try, you can never get the past back. 

      Without Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you are doomed two fold.

1. You doomed for eternity in hell.

2. You are doomed to live in the past without peace of mind.